"We wanted to prove ourselves"…CIRCUS, growth with zero limits (Showcase)

[Dispatch=Reporter Lee Ah-jin] "Music, stage, live performance—it's all CIRCUS, after all!" (Jin)

CIRCUS has returned with more intense music. The beat crashes relentlessly throughout the three minutes. Rap pours in from the opening, and a strong chant rings out at the highlight.

The performance has also become more elaborate. They deploy backup dancers to execute a mega crew formation. Utilizing the advantage of multiple members, the choreography features diverse movement patterns. Pair choreography emphasizes the breathing between members and adds detail.

Live performance skills have improved. Rappers with handheld microphones maintain stable rapping so smooth that no breath is heard. Vocal members showcase distinctive timbres.

Behind this growth lies a desire to prove themselves. Minjae shared, "We wanted to show ourselves more to the world. We made a commitment to step away from preconceived notions and do the music we do best."

CIRCUS held a showcase on the 19th at NOL Theater Hapjeong Dongyang Life Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their mini 7th album 'ROUTE ZERO: The ORA'.

CIRCUS begins a new worldview with 'ROUTE ZERO: The ORA'. While previous albums allowed them to travel freely through time and space, they now enter a controlled world. Within that world, they forge their own path.

Jin explained, "We broke through 'Tricky House,' the entity that confined us in the previous album. Starting with the new album, we tell the story after that. We will show you growth as we restart from zero."

Along with the start of the new worldview, they brought change to the music as well. Members participated in production of all tracks again. Minjae said, "From our debut, we have challenged music of various concepts and genres."

He continued, "While we have demonstrated diverse adaptability, on the other hand, I felt it was difficult to define our color in one word. So with the new album, we added more weight to the music and increased cohesion."

The new album contains a total of five tracks: 'Ghost Rider', 'Okay', 'Graffiti', 'Trophy', and 'Problem Child'. The title track is 'Okay'. It reveals CIRCUS's rough and confident charm.

An addictive chorus hooks the ear. The intense chant "Okay" repeats. Junghoon elaborated, "It's a part where energy explodes enough to give you a cathartic feeling."

They incorporated the national anthem in the back chorus. Sumin revealed, "We layered the national anthem from the highlight part to the end. We wanted to provide unexpected fun while also promoting our culture more."

The stage was also revealed for the first time that day. Members coordinated with dancers to execute a mega crew formation. In the second half, a dance break brought the atmosphere to its peak. In the end, they struck the ground strongly with their feet, finishing powerfully.

Above all, the solid live performance stood out. Yechan said, "We always practiced like it was a real performance in the practice room. Especially the rap members practiced until they could stand on stage without any AR at all."

The album tracks organically connect the worldview. Each song embeds a distinct story. They expanded their musical spectrum by challenging new sounds like band compositions.

Hyunwoo said, "All five tracks are different genres," and laughed, "We made a lot of effort to adapt vocals to each genre. I think we've grown so much that we can now handle any genre that comes our way."

In particular, 'Trophy' contains the resolve of boys on the verge of a new beginning. Hunter emphasized, "We expressed pride in the journey we have walked together as ten different people. It's a song that shows confidence that no one dares to overlook us."

Through 'Problem Child', they challenged a band sound for the first time since their debut. It is a song that simultaneously conveys refreshing yet intense energy. Sumin said, "It depicts the image of youth rushing forward without hesitation. It expresses CIRCUS as we are now."

Members shared their aspirations in closing. Hunter hoped, "We've received many awards at recent awards ceremonies, which has given us momentum. We want to work harder and occupy both music broadcast and music chart 1st place with this album."

Sumin said, "We think of ourselves as mischievous boys on stage. We want to unfold an even broader and freer stage going forward. We want to deliver great energy to our audience."

Seeun revealed her dream for the global stage. "First, I want to hold a concert in Korea and create good memories with our fans. After that, I want to move on to global stages like Lollapalooza and Coachella," she said, clenching her fist.

Minjae exclaimed, "We are trying to climb step by step. We will definitely reach the top someday. We will perform passionately so that people will always hear that we are a group that works hard."

by. Azin Lee